Form-fitting parachute pack



Feb. 28, 1933. w. BIRD ET AL FORM FITTING PARACHUTE PACK Filed Aug. 11, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS. William Bird Emi NEIL-.11

ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 28, 1933. w BIRD ET AL 1,899,661-

FORM FITTING PARACHUTE PACK Filed Aug. ll,v 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y /5 Y iNvizmbas.

William B11 [51 1 l LBEl u "-ATTCRNEYS.

Feb. 28, 1933. w. BIRD ET AL FORM FITTING PARACHUTE PACK 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 11, 1930 F IG. 8.

FIG. 7.

S R O T N E v m if E11 I I. E1 an BY v Patented Feb. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE p WILLIAM. BIRD, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, AND GUY M. BALL. OF LOS ANGELES, CALI- FORNIA, ASSIGNORS T IRVING- OHUTE COMPANY, INC., OF BUFFALO, NEW

YORK, A CORPORATION FORM-FITTING immcrw'rr: PACK Application filed August 11, 1930. Serial No. 474,588.

This invention relates-to improvements in parachute apparatus.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of improvements in form-fitting packs of the type set forth in U. S. ap-

plication Serial No. 355,550, and embodying improvements thereover in the provision of an improved shape retainingand pack form sustaining frame of material which is semirigid and sufficiently resilient to permit of longitudinal and lateral yielding of the frame and pack, for the purpose of efliciently andcompactly closing the pack, and providing sufficient flexibility which will enable an individual to wear the pack comfortably during transit.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved form-fitting parachute container frame of a nature which will 20. yield longitudinally as well as laterally.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved shape retaining frame adapted to be used in parachute packs of the back type, and which is substantially co-extensive with the pack for holding it in a desired form-fitting relation upon an in- "dividuals back; the improved frame being of an improved structural arrangement which will permit its longitudinal flexing,

' so that an individual may wear the pack comfortably with the assurance that the pack will flex with the bending of the body within certain limits.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course 'of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein simi- -lar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the form-fitting pack as worn by an individual pilot.

Figure 2 is a view showing the improved form-fitting pack as supported upon one type of seat, although the form-fitting pack may be used in] connection with special aircraft chairs, such as set forth in a co-pending ap- 60 plication, Serial No. 450,806.

the body of the wearer, with the container and pack closed.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view through the pack, showing the form-fitting characterof the same. a

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the open container of the pack, with the flaps extended.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the wire shaping frame used in the form-fitting pack, the same being an improvement over the frame of the application, Serial No. 355,550; the full lines designating the normal position of the same and the dotted lines showing the position to which the upper part of the frame may be flexed, as will sometimes occur during the bending of the body of the wearer; the same being capable of forward flexing as well.

Figure 8 is a front view of the improved frame, that is, showing the concave or formfitting side thereof.

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Figure 8, showing in full lines the normal position of the frame and in dotted lines showing the position to which the frame is sprung when the pack container is closed, and in which position it is held for form-fitting wear upon an individual; the full lines designating the position to which the frame springs to throw open the pack quickly and permit a freer ejection of the parachute upon pulling the rip cord, as has been set forth in an application, Serial No. 355,550, above mentioned.

Figure 10 is an enlarged cros sectional view showing one of the joint conflections of a flexible cross bar of the frameto one of .7 the longitudinal side bars. Figure 11 is a cross sectional view through 7 of illustration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generally designate the improved formfitting pack, which may consist of a container B having a conventional harness C attached therewith. The container B is adapted to receive a main parachute C which is connected with the harness C by means of shroud lines, designated at D in pockets within the pack B in Figure 5 of the drawings; the main parachute C having a pilot parachute E connected therewith and adapted to be releasably stored in the container B.

The improved parachute pack possesses general characteristicsofthe parachute pack now in standard use, except for the improved form-fitting features. In general the container B of the parachute pack comprises a substantially rectangular body portion 15 of fabric, which has an inner layer 16 secured thereto, defining a pocket 17 wherein the improved form-shaping wire frame F is received, as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. The container B furthermore comprises flexible side flaps 18 and 19 and flexible end or top and bottom flaps 20. In general the frame F is co-extensive'with the body portion 15 of the container, holding it in a formfitting relation. This frame is of concavoconvex transverse section, and it holds the body 15 in such shape. On the convex surface of the body portion 15 of the container B the main parachute C is compactly folded and enclosed and the side and end flaps brought into an overlapping relation and releasably secured by the conventional rip cord 25, in a manner which has been generically set forth in the U. S. Patent #1,403,983.

The harness C is of the general character set forth in U. S. Patent #1,560,366, as used.

by the Aerial Forces of the United States Government, generally comprising a U.-

shaped sling 26 in which the aviator sits, and which is provided with suitable fittings, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, and which need not be further detailed in this application, as they are well understood in the art. The harness C is provided with suspension webs 27 which extend into the pack A from the corners thereof. Within the pack these suspension webs 27 have the shroud lines D connected therewith and retained in an orderly pocketed arrangement substantially after the manner set forth in U. S. Patent #1,554,192. The pockets are shown at 30 in Figure 5 of the drawings, and also in Figure 6. I

The cross portions 31 of the harness C which extend across the shoulders ofthe wearer, and which are really a continuation of the sling 26, are secured as at 32 on the exterior surface of the back 15 of the container, asshown in Figure 4, and the waist band of the harness, as shown at 33 in Figure 4 of the drawings, is extended slidably through a loop 34 on the back surface of the body 15 of the pack.

The flaps of the container are of course provided with approved fastening means as set forth in U. S. Patent #1,403,983, consisting of transversely apertured cones 35, on certain of the flaps, adapted to fit through suitable grommets or eyelets on other of the flaps. The rip cord 25 is provided with suitable pins 37 which extend through the trans verse apertures of the ,cones 35 to hold the grommets in place. The rip cord 25 extends through a suitable flexible protecting cable 38 which extends over the shoulder or to the front of the user, Where the rip cord is pro vided with a suitable hand inserting handle 39, releasably retained in a flexible pocket 40 secured upon the harness or garment of the wearer, as shown in Figure 1.

It is a well known characteristic'of the container that the side flaps 18 and 19 are provided with inner auxiliary flaps 40, shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, which serve to overlap the main parachute when the pack is closed, to separate the pilotparachute E from the main parachute, after the manner set forth in U. S. Patent #1,403,983.

The frame F is preferably of wire, or good quality material such as will enable the same to resiliently flex under conditions to be hereinafter mentioned, and which will still maintain the pack in a semi-rigid form-fitting relation. This frame preferably comprises the longitudinal side bars 45 and 46, which in side elevation as shown in Figure 7 of the drawings, bow slightly outwardly from their lower ends to alocation 48 intermediate their ends, where they sharply concave in forwardly facing relation to fit the shoulder blades and sides at the top of the back of a wearer. Top and bottom cross bars 50 and 51 are provided, which respectively connect the upper and lower ends of the longitudinal side pieces 45 and 46. Cross pieces 52 and 53 are in substantial parallelism adjacent the top and bottom cross pieces 50 and 51 respectively, which are of course connected with the side pieces 45 and 46. A series of intermediate cross pieces 55 are provided, connected at their ends to the pieces 45 and 46, as shown in Figure 8. With the cross pieces in position the side pieces 45 and 46 relatively converge upwardly slightly from their lower ends, to a point intermediate their ends where they converge more acutely, and at'the center of the cavities which fit the shoulder blades of the wearer the bars 45 and 46 are most proximate, and therefrom upwardly diverge slightly, as shown in Figure 8. This descrippieces 45 and 46 as seen in est measured on a line at-right angles to the imaginary chord lines thereof. The intermediate curved pieces 55 are each of about the same depth, and the cross piece 52 is of slightly less depth than the intermediate pieces 55, and the top pice 50 is of least depth, since it fits across the back of the wearer just beneath the neck and top of the shoulder blades. The longitudinal side pieces 45 and 46 give sulficient rigidity to the side of the pack. It is apparent that they may be flexed. To give the upper and lower portions of the pack suflicient rigidity it is preferred'to connect the upper bars 50 and 52 together, and also the lower bars 51 and 53 together by diagonal bracing. Thus, as seen in Figure 8 of the drawings, diagonal braces 60 and 61 are connected at their lower ends to the cross piece 52 near the ends of the latter; the diagonal braces 60 and 61 extending upwardly in convergent relation and connected at their joined ends to the top piece 50 about midway of the ends of the latter.

The lower pieces 51 and 53 have a more rigid diagonal bracing, consisting of a length of wire which is connected at its ends near the ends of the cross piece 51 and therefrom extends upwardly in diagonal bracing lengths 65 and 66, connected at 67 to the cross piece 53 at each side of the midway point of the piece 53; therefrom the wire being bent in diagonal brace lengths 68 and 69 downwardly and being fastened at 70 to the midway point of the bottom cross piece 51.

The top and bottom pieces 50 and 51 have their ends 72 turned normal thereto, as best shown in Figure 11 of the drawings, and adapted to be connected to the adjacent ends of the side pieces 45 and 46, in alignment thereto, by metal ferrules or sleeves 73 which are soldered or welded in place, as shown in Figure 11.

The cross pieces 52, 53, and 55 have the ends 75 thereof turned normal to the respective cross pieces, preferably down-turned, in such manner that they may be placed parallel in abutment with the side pieces 45 and 46. Coil wire ferrules 77 are slipped over these ends 75 and over the pieces 45 and 46, as shown in Figure .10, to connect the ends of the pieces 52, 53 and 55 to the longitudinal side pieces 45 and 46; the coiled sleeves or ferrules 77 being soldered or welded in place to fix the ends of the cross pieces upon the side pieces of the frame, in the position shown. Similarly, the lower ends of the diagonal brace pieces 60 and 61 are connected by soldered coiled sleeves or ferrules 78 in the location mentioned upon the cross piece 52. The upper ends of the piece from which the dia onal braces 60 and 61 are formed is connecte by a wrapped wire sleeve 79 which attaches it to the cross piece 50 and being secured thereto as by welding or soldering. The lower ends of the dia onal brace pieces 65 and 66 are secured by errules or sleeves 80 upon the ends of the lower cross piece 51; being soldered or welded or otherwise fixed in place. The attachments 67 and 70 are formed by wrapping wire around the cross pieces 51 and 53 at these locations, and subsequently soldering or welding them in place.

With the parts assembled as above described a frame is provided which is semirigid. It may be transversely flexed from its normal full line position shown in Figure 9 to a flatter form-fitting position shown in the dotted lines in Figure 9, and it is to be noted that the upper and lower marginal portions of the frame between the cross pieces 5052 and 51-53 are reinforced so that they will yield with difficulty. It is to be particularly noted that there is no longitudinal reinforcement upon the frame other than the side pieces 45 and 46, and this enables the frame to flex longitudinally and in a resiliently yieldable manner so that the frame may be flexed much in the same manner as the back of a person flexes during stooping and other body movements. This is of great advantage in insuring the adaptation of the pack to the back of a wearer in a comfortable form-fitting position which will enable the wearer to bend or stoop, and relax. The advantage of this during cross-country flights is very apparent. Due to the diagonal bracing the upper and lower parts of the frame between the braces 5052 and 5153 do not flex readily longitudinally, so that the longitudinal flexing takes place almost entirely between the cross pieces 52 and 53. This bracing arrangement effectively braces and supports the back of the wearer at the base and at the top adjacent the shoulder blades.

The entire frame F is of course slipped into the pockets between the pieces of material constituting the body portion 15 of the pack container B, and it is stitched or secured therein by suitable lines of stitching 85, which may follow the cross or diagonal or longitudinal bracing. The frame F is co-extensive with the body 15 of the pack, and holds the.

pack semi-rigid in a form-fitting condition.

As to the manner of packing the container, the suspension lines 27 of the harness are first laid on the inside of the body 15 of the container, with the flaps of the latter open. The shroud lines D are then tucked into the pockets 30 in theusual manner. Thereafter the main parachute is folded in a compact zig-zag relation upon the folded shroud lines. The flaps of the container and the pilot parachute are then packed in enclosing relation in a manner well known in this art. The drawing of the flaps 18, 19 and-20 together and their securement along their overlapping edges draws the frame F into a laterally flexed and tensioned position, to the dotted line position shown in Figure 9, which is the form-fitting position.

The frame F holds the pack in a form-fit- 4 ting condition and it may be applied comfortably to the wearer, who may bend, forwardly or rearwardly with comfort due to the improvedconstruction of the frame F which permits longitudinal flexing.

Should the emergency arise necessitating operation, the aviator jumps from the disabled aircraft, and after the appropriate interval pulls the handle 39 of the rip cord 25. This releases the rip cord from the fastening means on the flaps of the container, and the tensioned elastic bands 100 secured to each of the flaps, assisted by the lateral contracting force of the frame F, since it must be remembered that the same is under tension in the closed pack, throws the'side flaps 18 and 19 sharply back, as well as the top and bottom flaps, permitting the pilot parachute E to anchor in the air. As the parachutist descends the main parachute and shroud lines are pulled out of the pack, in a manner well known to the art; the main canopy or parachute distending and lowering the aviator.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. In a parachute pack the combination of a container including an elongated body portion of flexible material having flexible marginal flaps secured thereto, an elongated resilient form-fitting frame secured to the body portion of the container in a co-extensive relation therewith, said frame being resiliently yieldable longitudinally, a parachute canopy, harness, means connecting the harness with the pack, operating means to releasably hold the flaps folded about the parachute canopy with the latter packed on the body portion of the container in a compact form-fitting relation, said operating means holding the flaps so that the wire frame is flexed transversely and under tension when the pack is closed and in a body form-fitting relation.

2. As an article of manufacture a parachute pack frame of wire comprising elongated side wire pieces, top and bottom transversely curved cross pieces, and intermediate transversely curved cross pieces, said intermediate transyersely curved cross pieces being free of relative connection except at said side pieces to permit the frame to freely bend longitudinally of the side pieces.

3. As an article of manufacture a parachute pack frame of wire comprising elongated side wire pieces, top and bottom transversely curved cross pieces, and intermediate transversely curved cross pieces, said intermediate transversely curved cross pieces beingv freeof relative connection except at said side pieces to ermit the frame to bend longitudinally of t e side pieces, all of said cross pieces-curving convexly in the same direction and defining a body form-fitting receiving channel longitudinally of the frame.

4. As an article of manufacture a parachute pack frame of wire comprising elongated side wire pieces, top and bottom transversely curved cross pieces, intermediate transversely curved cross pieces, said intermediate transversely curved cross pieces being free of relative connection except at said side pieces to permit the frame to bend longitudinally of the side pieces, all of said cross pieces curving convexly in the same direction and defining a body form-fitting receiving channel longitudinally of the frame, said top and bottom cross pieces having upright braces connecting them with the im-' mediate adjacent intermediate cross pieces fortransversely and longitudinally bracing and rendering the frame more rigid at the top and bottom parts thereof.

5. In combination, a back pack parachute pack comprising a main parachute, and a container having a supporting frame, said frame comprising a plurality of longitudinal flexible elements connected by transversely disposed cross elements, said elements being shaped so that the frame conforms to the body of the wearer, the side elements being longitudinally flexible and arranged to permit the frame to be readily bent with the back of a wearer, the cross elements being under tension when the parachute pack is in a packed condition to assist in deployment of the parachute.

WILLIAM BIRD. GUY M. BALL. 

